Victor NCS Max vs Victor NCS Pro vs Victor NCS vs Victor Master Ace: Synthetic vs Feather Badminton Shuttle Review & Comparison
- Fee Teng Liew
- 22 hours ago
- 5 min read
With lots of new synthetic shuttlecocks on the market, I wanted to compare Victor's range alongside their high-end traditional feather shuttles. Here is what we'll be comparing today:
I also wasn't able to get hold of an NCS Pro in speed 78, so the testing is done in speed 77 for the Pro, and speed 78 for the rest of the shuttles.
What Are Victor NCS (New Carbonsonic) Shuttles?
First things first, what is the NCS or New Carbonsonic shuttle?
It is a synthetic type of shuttle designed to coexist alongside natural feather shuttles.
Victor has marketed this as a new generation of synthetic shuttle, and personally, I think it’s great for consumers!
It gives players more choice depending on their preferences and budget. And especially in Europe, where there have been supply issues with feather shuttles, these provide a strong alternative.
Victor NCS Construction & Materials
The NCS shuttles are made using:
Polystyrene foam “feathers”
Carbon fibre reinforced stems (replacing traditional feather stems)
Standard thread, glue, and cork (same as feather shuttles)
So essentially, the feathers are replaced by foam, the stems are replaced by carbon fibre and everything else remains the same!
Size & Weight Comparison
Synthetic shuttles are slightly shorter, here are the measurements:
NCS shuttles: ~83 mm height
Feather shuttle: ~87 mm height
For the weight, all 4 shuttles tested were around 5 g, so very similar in that sense. A standard plastic shuttle was slightly heavier at ~5.3 g, which explains why plastic shuttles feel different in flight.
Visual & Feel Differences Between Models
The NCS standard uses foam feathers with slits only. The NCS Pro and Max use foam feathers with slits and additional holes (2 at the top and 1 at the bottom of each feather). They are cut and inserted so they look like a normal feather shuttle.
I've also noticed that the foam on the Victor NCS Max version is slightly more glossy on the inside, indicating it has some kind of coating there.
In terms of stiffness, the NCS standard is the softest, followed by the NCS Pro which is slightly stiffer, followed by the NCS Max which is the stiffest and closest to a real feather shuttle in that sense.
Understanding Shuttlecock Flight
From experience, synthetic shuttles differ from feather shuttles in two main ways:
1. Flight Curve & Energy Loss
Feather shuttles follow a smooth, natural arc, whereas synthetic shuttles lose energy more abruptly, drop more steeply, and also feel “heavier” despite having a similar weight.
From the ones tested here, the NCS Max is certainly the closest to the feather shuttle for this aspect.
2. Initial Speed & Shuttle Turn
Synthetic shuttles leave the racket very fast, lose speed quickly, and have a slight delay in turning after impact. On the other hand, feather shuttles are more balanced, predictable, and turn more quickly and naturally.
To be able to make shuttles turn immediately after being hit and turn naturally is very hard to manufacture, so if it's possible to do this with synthetic shuttles eventually, that will be the magic sauce!
I found that the NCS Pro had the worst problem with this, whereas the standard and Max were a lot better and a bit closer to a natural turning.
How Victor NCS Shuttles Compare To Feather Shuttles
Each version of the Victor NCS improves this gap between synthetic and feather shuttles:
NCS Standard: Closest compared to older synthetics
NCS Pro: Middle ground
NCS Max: Closest to feather shuttle behaviour
However, none fully replicate feather shuttles, but of all I've tested so far, they are the closest synthetic options so far!
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Durability Testing (Smash Test)
For this durability test, I played 20 full smashes with each shuttle, and this is what I found:
Feather Shuttle (Master Ace) - still almost perfect after 20 smashes and fully playable
NCS Max - some feathers broke quite quickly (including one on the first hit!), the stiffer stems meant it was less forgiving with the continuous smashes
NCS Pro - performed worse than expected as the feathers broke easily
NCS Standard - survived the 20 smashes, it's softer so therefore is more durable
Overall, the key pattern I noticed across these NCS shuttles was that:
Stiffness = better feel, worse durability
Softness = better durability, less crisp feel
This is why feather shuttles are so impressive, because they can balance stiffness AND pliability so well!
Badminton Match Testing
The NCS Standard lasted a long time, as it was used for 2 hours continuously without any shuttle change needed! The cork actually wore out before the structure failed, so very impressive durability there!
The NCS Max lasted a full doubles game and still looked almost new. The Master Ace feather shuttle almost lasted a full game and still looked good, and most importantly, had the best feel and control. This would still be the preferred shuttle for high-level play.
Overall, NCS shuttles seem to need more pronounced strokes and conscious shot execution, whilst feather shuttles feel much more natural, responsive, and easier to execute the skill shots.
Final Thoughts
Pros of NCS Shuttles
One of the best synthetic shuttles currently available
Very durable (especially the standard version)
Great for training and club play
Cons NCS Shuttles
Still not identical to the feather shuttle feel
There is a slight delay in shuttle behaviour
The high-end versions are less durable on mishits
Overall, I’m really impressed with the Victor NCS range! They're the closest synthetic shuttles to feather shuttles I’ve used and are a strong alternative depending on price and availability.
However, if you want the best feel, then feather shuttles are still your best option. But if you want durability and value, I would be super happy to recommend you to try the NCS options! As a consumer, having more options is always a good thing.
I've also done a review of Yonex's version of a synthetic shuttle, which you can view here!
These synthetic shuttles are certainly here to stay, and I’m excited to see how this category evolves. If you've tried them out, let me know your thoughts! And as always, don't forget to use the code 'CKYEW' for extra discounts, and I’ll see you in the next one!
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